Executive Session proposals will be accepted through 5pm EDT on Friday, February 3, 2012.

This year the AAA created a new online portal for executive session proposals. For the first time, with few exceptions organizers and panelists must register for the meetings in order for the session to be considered. We also are strongly encouraging, but not requiring, individual paper abstracts to be submitted and not just the names of panelists. We have received emails from organizers who have expressed concerns about both of these changes.

With respect to early registration, if a panelist needs to delay his or her registration, the organizer may contact the executive program chair (2012aaaprogramchair@gmail.com). Also, please be aware that the AAA has always had a policy of reimbursing registration fees if a panelist cannot attend because his or her panel was not chosen.

With respect to paper abstracts, more information about the session simply helps the executive program committee make a more informed decision. Given that these changes were a surprise for a few session organizers, we are extending the deadline for panel abstracts until February 3, 2012.